Rock Identifier
Petrified Wood (Silicified wood (permineralized fossilized wood)) — fossil
fossil

Petrified Wood

Silicified wood (permineralized fossilized wood)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; displays brown, tan, and reddish hues with a vitreous to dull luster. Preserves the original cellular structure of wood with quartz mineral replacement.

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Physical properties

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; displays brown, tan, and reddish hues with a vitreous to dull luster. Preserves the original cellular structure of wood with quartz mineral replacement.

Formation & geological history

Formed when buried tree wood is slowly replaced by silica-rich groundwater over millions of years, often dating from the Triassic period or older.

Uses & applications

Popular in lapidary arts for cabochons, polished display specimens, bookends, and decorative carvings.

Geological facts

The Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona contains one of the largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood in the world. The process of permineralization can preserve microscopic cellular details of ancient plants.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinct woody grain patterns combined with the heavy weight and high hardness of quartz. Found worldwide in sedimentary rock layers associated with ancient forests and volcanic ash beds.

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